Pipe tongs



June 9, 119.42; P. w. LANGE ErAL PIPEA TONGS Hmmfmnm Nw@ @du Filed Nov.9,- 1959 e y Jarolm'aran y www", vf

Patented June 9, 1942 'untreu STATES UFFICE PEPE TONGS Paul W. Lange andHarold A. McFarland,

Casper, Wyo.

11 Claims.

This invention relates to locking pipe tongs.

An object of the invention is the provision of a pair of quick-lockingpipe tongs which have a positive gripping action on the pipe after thejaws have encircled and have become automatically locked to the pipewith means for quickly releasing the jaws when desired.

Another object of the invention is the pro` vision of a pair ofquick-locking pipe tongs which are automatically set in operativerelation with a pipe when the pipe is moved in between pairs of thejaws, the free ends of the jaws having interlocking means for retainingthe jaws in position after they have been moved into an encirclingrelation when the pipe has been inserted between the jaws, the jaws atno time being so wedged on the pipe that they cannot be readily releasedwhen desired.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pair of pipetongs having jaws which are caused to be automatically moved intoperative position when a pipe is inserted between the jaws, the jawshaving a large surface for effectively holding the pipe while preventingthe pipe from being flattened, a tripping lever being employed forimmediately releasing the grip of the jaws on the pipe.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawingforming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, beingsusceptible of such changes and modifications as define no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view oi a pair of tongs in open position andconstructed in accordance with the principles of our invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the tongs showing the jaws inoperative relation on a pipe,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal end view,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 5 5 ofFigure l, and

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 5--6 ofFigure l.

Figure '1 is a transverse section through a cylinder secured to one ofthe jaws of the tongs.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I0 designates 4a handlehaving a head portion `II and this head portion is provided with,projections I2 and I3. Between the pair of projections is asubstantially V-shaped cut-out portion I4.

A pair of levers I5 are located upon opposite sides of the head II andare pivotally mounted on a pin I6 carried by the projection I3. This pinmay be held in place by means of a Cotter pin I1 or by a nut threadedonto the end of the pin. The levers extend rearwardly and have `theirfree ends I8 terminating at points adjacent the projection I2.

A movable jaw 20 is pivotally mounted on the pin I6 and has a pair oflegs 2| straddling the levers I5 and the projection I3. These legs arein flat contact with the outer faces of the levers I5, as shown moreparticularly in Figs. 3 and 2. The inner face of the jaw 20 is providedwith a vtoothed portion 22 which is dove-tailed into the body of the jawand is adapted to engage the pipe to prevent the jaw from slipping onthe pipe. The member 22 is replaceable.

The outer end of the jaw 23 is bifurcated to form a pair of legs 23,which straddle a second jaw 24. A pin 25 pivotally connects the jaw 24with the outer free end of the jaw 2). It will be noted from Fig. 4 thatthe jaw 24 is provided with a pair of legs 26 which are located inwardlyof the legs 23. The outer free end of the jaw 24 is provided with a pairof curved ngers 21 vfor a purpose which will be presently explained.

To the inner end of the jaw 20 and at one side thereof is secured atripping finger 30 which eX- tends laterally inwardly from the jaw. Asecond tripping linger 3I is secured to one side of the jaw 24 and thislinger also extends laterally inwardly from the inner end of the jaw fora purpose which will be presently explained.

A jaw 35 is provided with a pair of legs 3S which are pivotally mountedon a pin 31 carried by the levers I5. The inner faces of the legs 36 arein flat Contact with the outer faces of said levers. This jaw is alsoprovided witha toothed plate 38 which is removably dove-tailed in theinner face of the jaw 35 and cooperates with the toothed plate 22 foraiding in holding the pipe against slippage when the tongs are operated.v

A second or auxiliary jaw 4I] has legs 4I which are pivotally mounted ona pin 42 carried by the outer reduced end 43 of the jaw 35. The legs 4Iare in contact with the opposite faces of the reduced portion 43 of thejaw 35.

The outer end of thejaw 40 is also provided with a pair of spaced legs45 and these legs are pin 48.

The pin 63, as shown more particularly in Fig. 6, is provided with anannular groove 49 which is adapted to receive a spring 55 located ineach of the openings 4S and 41. The spring 5i) maintains the pin 48against displacement during the operation of the tongs.

On one face of the jaw 45 and on the outer face of one of the legs 45 ofthe said jaw is formed a cam member 5I which is adapted to engage theunder surface of a handle 52 connected with the pin 48 so that when thepin is turned by means of the handle the cam member will force the pinoutwardly and release it from the spring 5U.

The pin 48 is adapted to be engaged by the curved ngers 2'! on the jaws24 when the jaws are in locked position around the pipe. The pin isplaced within the openings 46 when the jaws of the tongs are adapted toengage around the pipe and when the jaws are adapted to engage thecollar of the pipe said pin is placed in the openings 41.

A handle 52 is secured to the jaw 4G and may be gripped by the hand forpulling the jaw away from the pipe when the pin 8 has been released fromthe curved nger 21..

A bell-crank 55 is provided with a handle 55 and a pair of legs 53.straddling the projection I2 on the handle il). These legs arepivotally mounted on a pin 59 carried by the projection I2. A pair ofarms 65 project lat right angles from the inner ends of the legs 58 andare rigidly connected thereto. Each arm E carries a pin 6I upon which ismounted a roller 62 adapted to engage the levers I for oscillating thelevers so that one of the levers will be moved into engagement with astop t3 formed on one face of the head II. After the tongs have beenoperated and when the lever '55 and the levers I5 move to the positionsshown in Fig. 2, the jaws will be held against displacement. It will benoted that the projection I2 is provided with an arcuate slot 64 throughwhich the pin 6I moves.

A pin 65 is connected to one of the levers I5 and is in a position toengage the -outer edges of the legs of the jaw 35 to limit the inwardmovement of the jaw.

A cylinder "I5 is secured within a pocket formed in the jaw 35 and issecured to the legs in any approved manner. This cylinder has a reducedportion 'II projecting outwardly from the legs and towards theprojection I2 -on the head po-rtion II of the handle I0. The outer endof the portion 'II of the cylinder 'I0 is provided with an inturnedflange 'I2 adapted to receive a reduced portion 13 of a piston 'I4 whichis slidably mounted in the reduced portion. 'IVI of the cylinder '10. Ahead 'I5 is located on the outer end of the piston 'I4 and is providedwith an annular 'ange 'I6 which is adapted to engage the ange 'I2 on thecylinder 1i) to limit the inward movement of the piston. An annularshoulder 'I'I on the piston 14 engages the flange l2 on the -cylinder 'Ifor limiting the outward movement of the piston. A coil spring 'I8 islocated within the cylinder 'I0 and has one end engaging the inner endof the piston 'I4 while the opposite end engages a closed end 'I9 of thecylinder. The spring tends at all times to force the piston outwardlyfrom the cylinder.

A cam member 85 formed on the end of the bell-crank 55 is adapted toengage the head 'I5 of the piston or plunger 'i4 for forcing the jaws 3Sand 4I] inwardly towards the respective jaws 20 and 24 when the bellcrank 55 is oscillated. Oscillation of the bell crank causes the cammember 8) to move over the head 'I5 of the piston 14, thereby causingthe jaw 35 and likewise 40 to be moved towards the jaw 20 as will bepresently explained.

The operation of the device is as follows: The jaws of the tongs shownin Fig. l are in open position and are ready to receive a pipe 8I. Asthe tongs are moved towards the pipe the placing the tongs in operativeposition on the pipe the member SI will be engaged by the pipe wherebythe jaw 24 will be moved inwardly towards the j'aw 4). Continuedmovement of the tongs will cause the member 30 to come in contact withthe pipe whereby the jaw 'Z0 will be .moved inwardly. The jaws 35 and Itare then moved upwardly towards the pipe and since the jaw Z has beenmoved inwardly the ngers 21 will be in a position to be engaged by thepin 48 which is in the openings 126 in the legs at the outer end of thejaw d.

The bell crank is then rocked in the direction indicated by the Iarrowin Fig. l whereby the rollers B2 will engage the levers I5 at each sideof the head II and moves the said lever in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. l and one of the levers engages the stop 63 at oneside of the head.

At this time the arm of the bell crank will be in a horizontal positionwhile the horizontal axis of the rollers 62 will be in substantiallyvertical alignment with the axis of the pivot of the bell crank.

When the pin 4% is in the passages 4S in the spaded legs 5 of the jaw 40the cam A80 will be in close association with the head 'I5 of theplunger 'I4 as shown in Fig. 2 but will not act on said head forretaining the jaws in operative relation with the pipe 8l. However, whenthe pin 48 is located in the passages 41 in the legs 45 of the jaw 4)the cam 8i! will engage the head 'l5 and force the plunger towards theinner end of the cylinder 'ill against the tension of the spring 78, sothat when the bell crank is in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2the cam will exert pressure on the plunger for maintaining the jaws 35and '45 in a firmer gripping relation with the collar of a drill string.In other words, when the tongs are applied to an article of greaterdiameter than the pipe BI the pin 48 is placed inthe opening i? and theplunger I4 in con-nection with the cfarn member 8l] cooperates formaintaining the jaws in a tighter gripping relation with the collar orother element 4so that the toothed plate 3.8 will be urged in contactwith the outer surface of the collar .and prevent the tongs from.falling away from the collar when power has been released from thehandle I0.

It will be seen .by this construction that pipes or collars of diierentdiameters may be rmly gripped by the same pair of tongs by theladjustment of .the pin S2 in either of the openings :46 -or 4'! at theouter end of .the jaw 453. The oscillation of the handle of the bellcrank 55 -in the direction indicated in Fig. 1 causes rocking of thelever i5 in the direction indicated by the arrow whereby a pull will beexerted on the jaws 3'5 and 4t2 until one of the levers 55 engages astop I63.

When the bell crank lever :55 has been swung from the position shown inFig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2 it will be recognized that theroller 62 will tend to hold the lever I5 lagainst the stop 63. When thehandle I0 is moved counter-clockwise and is in the position shown in thedrawing the lever I5 will tend to ,rotate in the same direction asforced by the roller 62 on the locking lever 55. This tends to exert apull on the gripping jaw 35 `which is connected to the lever l by thepin 31. At the time that the lever 55 is moved to its set position thecam member 80 engages the head 19 of the piston 14 and compresses thespring 18. The force thus created tends to urge the gripping jaw in agripping operation and also pulls this jaw to impart a pull on the leverI5. This will place the entire gripping jawV structure with the latchmembers under yieldable tension around the pipe. It will be recognizedthat lack of uniformity in the diameter of the pipe might cause a slightamount of lost motion between the roller 62, the lever l5 and the stop63 when the structure is latched. vThis lost motion will be taken upautomatically by the action of the cam 80, the piston 14 and the spring18. This is a point of considerable importance since in cases where themovement of the roller 62 did not tightly bind the gripping membersaround the pipe before a pull is taken on the handle Ill the tongs wouldtend to slip down on the pipe, but when the piston 1d and the spring 18are provided these members will maintain the gripping jaws and the latchmembers in a tightly wrapped position around the pipe at all times, andwill prevent the tongs from slipping down during the period when no pullis being exerted on the handle Ill.

Rocking of the handle lil will cause all of the jaws to bind firmly onthe pipe 3l so that the pipe may be turned.

When it is desired to remove the tongs from the pipe it is onlynecessary to swing the lever outwardly away from the handle l0, wherebythe levers l5 will be released and the jaws will likewise be releasedfrom rigid contact with the pipe. The curved fingers 21 may then beremoved from the pin 58.

When the pin 4B is in the openings 41 of the jaw 4S the cam 8l! will beremoved from its engagement with the head of the plunger 14 for furtherreleasing the jaws when the bell crank is moved outwardly from thehandle l0 and to the position in Fig. l.

From the foregoing disclosure it will thus be seen that the tongs aresimple in their construction,A rmay' be latched in position easily, andthereafter quickly set in a gripping position. It will furthermore berecognized that due to the yieldable element interposed in thecombination of levers and jaws, the jaws when disposed in an embracingposition around a pipe will be held' yieldalcly in this position tomaintain the tongs in a desired horizontal plane of operation.

We claim:

1. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, a pair of levers and a main clampingjaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of the handle, asecond main jaw having pivotal connections with the levers inwardly ofthe first pivotal connection, an auxiliary jaw pivotally connected tothe free end of the first-mentioned jaw and provided with curved lingersat the free end thereof, a second auxiliary jaw pivoted on the free endof the second main jaw and provided with a pin adapted to be received bythe curved fingers, a stop on the handle adapted to be engaged by thefree end of the lever, and means on the handle for forcing one of thelevers against the stop for causing the jaws to tightly grip the pipe.

2. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, a pair of levers and a main clampingjaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of the handle, asecond main jaw having pivotal connections with vthe levers inwardly ofthe rst pivotal connection, an auxiliary jaw pivotally connected to thefree end of the rst-mentioned jaw and provided with curved fingers atthe free end thereof, a second auxiliary jaw pivoted on the free end ofthe second main jaw and provided With a pin adapted to be received bythe curved fingers, a stop on the handle adapted to be engagedby thefree end of the lever, tripping fingers projecting inwardly from a mainjaw and from an auxiliary jaw adapted to be engaged successively by apipe for causing said jaws to be moved into operative relation with saidpipe, and means on the handle for forcing one of the levers against thestop for causing the jaws to tightly grip the pipe.

3.'Pipe tongs comprising a handle, a pair of levers and a main clampingjaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of .the handle, asecond main jaw having pivotal connections with'the levers inwardly ofthe first pivotal connection, an auxiliary jaw pivotally connected tothe free end of the rst mentioned jaw and. provided with curved fingersat the free end thereof, a second auxiliary jaw pivoted on the free endof the second main jaw and provided with a pin adapted to be received bythe curved fingers, and means for causing oscillation of the levers fordrawing the jaws tight around the pipe.

4. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, a pair of levers and a main clampingjaw having a common pivotal connection with' one end of the handle, asecond main jaw having pivotal connections with the levers inwardly ofthe first pivotal connection, an auxiliary jaw pivotally connected tothe free end of the iirst-mentioned jaw and provided with curved ngersat the free end thereof, a second auxiliary jaw pivoted on the free endof the second jaw and provided with a pin adapted to be received by thecurved ngers, and means for oscillating the levers and locking thelevers in an operative position after the jaws have been tightened onthe pipe by said levers.

5. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, a pair of levers and a main clampingjaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of the handle, asecond main jaw having pivotal connection with the levers inwardly ofthe first pivotal connection, an auxiliary jaw pivotally connected tothe free end of the first mentioned jaw and provided with curved iingersat the free end thereof, a second auxiliary jaw pivoted on the free endof the second main jaw and provided with a pin adapted to be received bythe curved fingers, and a bell crank pivotally mounted on the handlehaving a short arm pro--A vided with rollers engageable with the leversfor moving said levers to an operative position to draw the jaws tightaround the pipe, and a long arm included in the bell crank foroscillating the bell crank.

6. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, a pair of levers and a main clampingjaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of the handle, asecond main jaw having pivotal connections with the levers inwardly ofthe first pivotal connection, an auxiliary jaw pivotally connected tothe free end of the first mentioned jaw and provided with curved ngersat the free end thereof, a second auxiliary jaw pivoted on the free endof the second main jaw and provided with a pin adapted to be received bythe curved nngers, a stop on the handle adapted to be engaged by thefree end of the lever, and means on the handle for forcing one of thelevers against the stop for causing the jaws to tightly grip the pipe,the second auxiliary jaw having a plurality of passages to receive thepins so that the jaws may be used on pipes of different diameters.

7. VPipe tongs comprising a handle, a pair of levers and a main clampingjaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of the handle, asecond main jaw having pivotal connections with the levers inwardly ofthe rst pivotal connection, an auxiliary jaw pivotally connected to thefree end of the first mentioned jaw and provided with curved fingers atthe free end thereof, a second auxiliary jaw pivoted on the free end ofthe second main jaw and provided with a pin adapted to be received bythe curved fingers, a stop on the handle adapted to be engaged by thefree end of the lever, means on the handle for forcing one of the leversagainst the stop for causing the jaws to tightly grip the pipe, thesecond auxiliary jaw having a plurality of passages to receive the pinsso that the jaws may be used on pipes of diierent diameters, and meansfor removably retaining the pin in the passage.

8. Pipe tongs comprising an operating handle, a lever and a mainclamping jaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of the Yhandle, a second main jaw having pivotal connection at one end with thelever, an auxiliary jaw connected with the free end of each main jaw,cooperating means on the free ends of the auxiliary jaws for removablyconnecting the auxo iliary jaws together, a manually operable leverpivoted at one end on the handle and provided with a cam, a plungermounted on the second main jaw, a spring forcing said plunger towardsthe cam so that when the jaws are engaged around a collar on a pipe andthe second lever is rocked to cause the cam to engage the plunger, saidcam will exert a pressure on the plunger and maintain the jaws intotight gripping relation with the collar, and means on the second leverfor causing rocking of the first-lever for aiding in drawing the jawstight around the collar.

9. Pipe tongs comprising an operating handle,

a lever and a clamping jaw having a common pivotal connection with oneend of the handle, a second clamping jaw having pivotal connections atone end with the lever, cooperating means on the free ends of the jawsfor removably connecting the jaws together around a pipe, a manuallyoperable lever pivoted at one end of the handle and -provided with acam, a plunger mounted on the second jaw, a spring forcing said plungertowards the cam so that when the jaws are engaged around the pipe andthe second lever is rocked the cam will exert pressure on the plungerand maintain the jaws in gripping relation with the pipe, and means onthe second lever for causing rocking of the first lever for aiding indrawing the jaws tight around the pipe.

10. Pipe tongs comprising an operating handle, a lever and a clampingjaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of the handle, asecond clamping jaw having pivotal connections at one end with thelever, cooperating means on the free ends of the jaws for removablyconnecting the jaws together around a pipe, a manually operable leverpivoted at one end on the handle and provided with a cam, means on thesecond jaw and acted on by the cam for causing the jaws to be retainedin gripping relation on the pipe When the second lever is oscillated,and means on the second lever for causing rocking of the rst lever foraiding in drawing the jaws tight around the pipe.

11. Pipe tongs comprising an operating handle, a lever and a mainclamping jaw having a common pivotal connection with one end of thehandle, a second main jaw having a pivotal connection at one end withthe lever, articulate means to wrap around an article to be gripped andconnecting the free ends of the clamping jaws, manually operable meansacting against the lever to move it while drawing the jaws and theirarticulate connections around the object to be gripped and thus holdingthem, and yieldable means disposed between said manually operable meansand one of said jaws whereby the jaws and their articulate connectionsmay be maintained under gripping tension.

PAUL W. LANGE. HAROLD A. MCFARLAND.

